[ausev] Cold weather and lead acid batteries

[Claire Sorenson]

Yes, I thought the Ranger EV had a temperature control system also, so I
wouldn't have expected this drop in power.  But, it was charging better this
last week, so maybe there was something else going on.  Does anyone know if
repeated short charges can cause problems with lead acid batteries?

I called Blue Sky motors last week. They said that I should run the truck to
near complete discharge every two weeks.  They said if I do a lot of small
partial charges that it will cause it to charge less and less.  I have been
aware of batteries in phones and other small electrical items having to be
fully discharged so it doesn't create a "charge memory", but I didn't think
that this applied to lead acid batteries.  I had understood that with lead
acid it was best to keep them charged as much as possible and that it was
harmful to discharge them too far.
One thing that I was doing the past few months was to drive the truck a
couple of miles to a park to walk the dogs every morning.  When I would
return home I would plug in the truck until I left for work about 1/2 hour
to 1 hour later.  So I had a short discharge and short charge every morning
during the week before my trip to work.  I have stopped doing that to see if
it makes any difference and we use the Honda to go the park.  So, as I said
the truck seems to be charging better this last week.  Is that just a
coincidence?
-- 
Claire Sorenson
512-689-5911
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